Impacto dos E-Books nos Hábitos de Leitura dos Estudantes Portugueses e na Indústria Editorial

Abstract

Reading is an activity that has been present in people's lives for thousands of years. With the introduction of technologies and new communication dynamics, it appeared a new book format, the e-book, result of the abbreviation of electronic book, which stood out for its characteristics of usability, which allowed a faster access to the information, with the incorporation of search engines. It revolutionized the book market, but also the ways of reading, which had a great impact worldwide, especially in the english speaking countries, of which America stands out. Portugal was not as enthusiastic as other countries to the appearance of the e-book, perhaps because it is a country with a weak book policy, with a population that is among the ones who read less in the European averages. Even the publishing market remains somewhat disconnected from this reality, but it is possible to verify a restruction of the editing techniques used, as well as an investment in technologies and human resources and a continuous cost in the maintenance of the format. The present dissertation consists of analyzing the impact of the e-book on students' reading habits and on the Portuguese publishing industry. An empirical investigation with a mixed approach where two different methods were used in data collection: questionnaires and interviews. The first is applied to university students and the second to the publishers. This study aims to update existing data on the subject and to think about the changes provoked by the appearance of the digital format, in order to understand whether or not the e-book is a successful product in the national market, what is its relevance for publishers and students' use and preference.